LTC 482-2025 Update on the Implementation of Operation Clean Water Program - #11MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC #482-2025
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and M mber e City Commission
Cl.
Eric Carpenter, City Manager {/UC,
November 13, 2025
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE IMPLEM ENTATION OF "OPERATION CLEAN WATER"
PROGRAM -#11
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to provide the Mayor and City Commission an
update on "Operation Clean Water," adopted on March 19, 2025, by Resolution No. 2025-33559.
At the July 10, 2025 meeting of the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC), City staff
provided an update on the North Beach Water Quality and Park View Canal Report. The
discussion concluded with a motion, directing the Administration to provide weekly updates on the
"Operation Clean Water'' efforts at the Park View Canal, with a focus on Biscayne Beach
Elementary hotspots, associated lateral pipe-lining, above-ground cleanliness (alleyways, street
sweeping, pressure washing), and homeless outreach. The Stormwater Influence Index was
created to provide data on sources of water contamination entering the City's sewers within a
designated area. Assessments were conducted on 70 blocks in the North Beach area between
June 1, 2025, through August 31, 2025. These assessments resulted in 2,392 block assessments
with each block assessed approximately 30 times. Findings include the following:
•84% of street assessments indicated litter visible
•72% of sidewalk assessments indicated litter visible
•17% of alley assessment indicated litter/trash and/or illegal dumping visible
•6% of alley assessments indicated unkept infrastructure
•56% of shoreline assessments indicated litter/trash visible
•10% of private infrastructure assessment indicated private drain leading to street
At the September 11, 2025 LUSC meeting, the Environmental and Sustainability and Public Works
Departments presented an update on "Operation Clean Water'', which continues to be a significant
priority for the City. At the meeting, LUSC members made a motion to move the item to the City
Commission for discussion, with a favorable recommendation to: 1) Authorize an independent,
third-party review of the Sanitary Sewer Pump Station 23; 2) Expand the monthly water quality
study to authorize and fund weekly water testing in Park View Canal; 3) Expedite the
comprehensive infrastructure study for North Beach; and to maintain Park View Canal as a
standing item on the Committee's agenda for regular updates.
At the September 17, 2025 meeting, City Commission members were presented with the LUSC
recommendation. The discussion concluded with a motion to move forward with the independent
third-party consultant; authorize funding for the weekly water testing; expedite a comprehensive
infrastructure study in North Beach; move forward with the proposed implementation of
nanobubbles; and continue working with the dredging of the canal.
Biscayne Beach Elementary (No Update)
The pipe-lining contractor,Vortex Infrastructure Services,LLC (Vortex),mobilized at Biscayne
Beach Elementary on August 8,2025,and began with the cleaning of lateral lines and performing
closed-circuit television (CCTV)inspections through existing access points.The cleaning process
removed debris,tuberculation,and rust to improve inspection accuracy,facilitate point repairs,and
prepare the lines for subsequent lining.
Vortex's revised scope of work included completing at least 5 point-repairs,replacing deteriorated
cleanouts,and installing additional cleanouts as needed to provide proper access for lining at a
minimum of twelve locations.As new lateral lines were identified,additional cleanouts were
installed to ensure adequate system access.To minimize disruption to the school's operations,
Vortex transitioned its lateral line activities to nighttime hours beginning August 14,2025.
Since work began,the City has actively coordinated with the Miami-Dade County School Board
and Biscayne Beach Elementary representatives to share project updates,address challenges,
and review the anticipated completion schedule.Weekly coordination meetings were established
to report progress,to identify newly discovered lateral lines,and to gain consensus on any
proposed additions to the scope of work.
The project experienced delays due to the inaccurate as-built plans originally provided,which failed
to show the correct locations of the school's lateral lines.This significantly extended the initial
CCTV exploration,cleaning,and point-repair phase.That phase,along with the installation of
clean-outs,was completed on August 31,2025.
Lining of the additional lateral pipes began on August 29,2025,and continued over the next three
consecutive weekends.Because newly lined pipes produce a distinctive off-gassing during the
curing process,this work was limited to weekends when the campus was unoccupied,ensuring
that odors fully dissipated before classes resumed.
At this point,Vortex's full scope of work at Biscayne Beach Elementary has been completed.The
completed work includes:1,320 LF of pipe cleaned,approximately 1100 LF of piping lined,12
cleanouts installed and/or replaced,and 5 point-repairs performed due to collapsed pipes,rebar
obstruction,and cleanout complications.Additionally,the cleanout 1B (CO1 B)in the School's
courtyard was plugged off.
The attached updated maps,'EXHIBIT --A'provides a graphical depiction of the scope of work
completed.
In addition to the CCTV inspection,point repairs,and lateral pipe-lining efforts on the Biscayne
Beach Elementary property,over the last several years the City has performed extensive sanitary
sewer assessments and rehabilitation activities on Park View Island and the Park View Extended
area,see attached 'EXHIBIT -B'for additional details.
Force Main Break at Biscayne Beach Elementary,October 4,2025
On Saturday,October 4,2025,at 2:13 PM,a sewer force main break was reported by a
stakeholder on the grounds of Biscayne Beach Elementary.Public Works Operations staff
promptly responded to the site and successfully bypassed the flows,stopping the overflow by 4:30
PM.Repairs were conducted between 4:30 PM and 10:30 PM.By 10:30 PM,normal pumping
operations were restored at the sewer station,and the pipe was placed back into service.MDC-
DERM and FDEP were notified the same day,in accordance with County and State Code and City
reporting protocols.The rupture resulted in sewage being released onto the school grounds and
into the Tatum Waterway near Park View Canal,which has been under a "no contact"advisory
due to high bacteria levels.The replacement of the sewer force main,which is included in the City
of Miami Beach Master Plan,is pending necessary funding.
On Sunday,October 5,2025,Operations staff returned to the site to thoroughly clean and disinfect
the area.All affected stormwater systems were cleaned and disinfected.Sodding and court
restoration will commence now that a proposal has been received from Everglades Environmental
Care.Sampling activities began on Sunday,October 5,2025,and continued until two consecutive
samples were received within appropriate parameters in coordination with the local regulatory
authorities.Sampling took place daily by the Environment and Sustainability Department and the
"No Contact with Water"advisory for the waters adjacent to 77 Street and the Tatum Waterway
was lifted on October 16,2025.
The sewer force main near the Park View Canal,which was installed in 1981,was initially projected
to have a useful life of approximately 50 years,taking into account the corrosive environment
typical of tidal-influenced communities.According to the City's Master Plan,it was scheduled for
replacement by 2031.However,the Public Works Director has since deemed it a Departmental
emergency,prompting the reprioritization of its replacement as an emergency project with a
projected timeframe of 8-12 months.
On Friday,October 17,2025,Engineering and Operations staff conducted a pre-bid meeting with
drilling contractors who are already mobilized on the beach.The meeting aimed to go over the
scope of work required for a design-build of an emergency 20-inch horizontal directional drill
(HOD).The project will be procured as an emergency design-build.
The in-kind replacement of the existing 16-inch sanitary sewer force main,which runs
approximately 2,900 linear feet from sanitary sewer pump station #24 South to sanitary sewer
pump station #23,is a critical needs project.This replacement is vital,as it will help mitigate any
potential future sanitary sewer overflows (SSO)in the already environmentally sensitive area.
Ultraviolet Sanitization Pilot Project (No Update)
The formal agreement between the City of Miami Beach and the University of Miami (UM)for the
Ultraviolet Sanitization Pilot Project for street cleaning has been reviewed and executed by the
City Manager's Office,and the University of Miami as of August 26,2025.The purchase order
was issued on August 28,2025,and an onsite preparation meeting was held on September 5,
2025.Further coordination is taking place to schedule the three separate days for the study to
take place.
One of the primary recommendations of the report was to focus on "cleaning"street surfaces,as
best as possible,to reduce levels of enterococci entering the stormwater system.
Recommendations include increasing the frequency of street sweeping,augmenting street
sweeping by removing visible debris and fecal deposits manually,and the possible use of ultra-
violet (UV)light to disinfect street surfaces.UV light is a known disinfection technology which is
environmentally friendly,in that it does not impart a chemical residual.
The scope of the pilot project includes 73"°Street,which was documented as a "hot spot."This
location was also chosen because it is a uniform,two-lane street with a median which can facilitate
experimental and traffic logistics,and it is an area where both University of Miami studies
demonstrated elevated levels of enterococci.The street can be partitioned into three segments to
evaluate six conditions (one set of three for streets,and another set of three for sidewalks),and
the conditions to be tested are:no cleaning,sweeping (industrial for streets and manual for
sidewalks),and sweeping plus UV.These conditions are being tested three times,once at each
segment,to assess whether the UV treated segments show a significant improvement over non-
UV treated segments.One segment took place on September 19,another on September 26,and
the final took place on October 17,2025.Results will be compiled and disclosed after the
completion of the assessment,around February 2026.
Nanobubble Technology {No Update)
Nanobubble technology was identified and reviewed by Environment and Sustainability,Public
Works,and the City Manager's Office as a viable technology for Park View Canal.Nanobubbles
are tiny bubbles,less than 200 nanometers in size.Unlike regular bubbles that quickly rise and
pop due to buoyancy,nanobubbles can stay suspended in water for a longer period of time thanks
to their small size and random motion.These bubbles can be naturally created in places like
waterfalls or artificially produced using special generators.
Nanobubbles are beneficial because they dissolve gases,like oxygen,more effectively in water,
which helps accelerate various physical,chemical,and biological processes.They also adhere to
materials in the water,causing them to clump together,which can prevent the buildup of biofilm
and scale.These processes also help clean the water by promoting the breakdown of microbial
contaminants,reducing harmful pathogens,algal growth,and bad odors,ultimately improving
overall water quality.The technology has been used in the State of Florida and globally,however
it has not been used yet in Miami-Dade County.
Additionally,a pre-application meeting was held with the County regulatory staff to confirm that the
technology could be permitted.An on-site meeting was held and the small containment unit/station
for the technology can be stored securely within the Public Works facility adjacent to the
canal.There are no expected impacts to the environmental resources of the Park View Canal or
disruptions to the park.
At the request of the City Commission at the September 17,2025 meeting and subsequent
approval at the September 30,2025 Budget Hearing,nanobubble technology was discussed and
the Environment and Sustainability Department will negotiate an agreement for the planning of the
nanobubbles project within the Architecture and Engineering pool.The estimate for the design
and permitting phase is less than $250,000,which was allocated in the FY26 budget.Direction
was given to the consultants to provide a proposal for an initial short-term project to test how the
technology works within the Park View Canal setting and to evaluate the impact of the technology.
Stormwater Management {No Update)
The Miami-Dade County Environmental Resources Management (DERM),which has approved
the responses submitted to their last Request For Information (RFI),issued the Class II permit for
the seven Downstream Defender hydrodynamic separator/water quality structures on Friday
August 1,2025,allowing the City to move forward with the final design and the procurement
process.Construction is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2026.
Routine maintenance efforts remain ongoing.Stormwater structures from 72°to 77 Streets,
between Dickens Avenue and Collins Avenue,have been cleaned twice since March 2025,a third
cleaning was completed during the week of July 28,2025,and two additional cleanings are
scheduled to occur before the end of the 2025 calendar year.
The Public Works and Communications Departments are working together to display messaging
on the side of waste collection trucks around the City.Details are being coordinated for this
effort,but below are two mock-ups to see how the designs will look on the trucks:
Sanitation (No Update)
The Sanitation Division continues to provide:
•Hand-sweeping crews and mechanical sweeping are conducted three times per week in
the Park View area (Monday,Wednesday,and Friday).The Multihog machine operates
on alternating days (Tuesday,Thursday,and Saturday),focusing on alleyways between
73°and 76"Streets.
•There are eleven (11)doggie-bag dispensers installed in the area of Park View Island,they
are refilled twice a week,and the associated waste is collected daily (seven days a week).
•Service frequency in Crab Alley has increased from twice to three times per week.Crews
have been equipped with extended-reach pick sticks (up to 6 feet)to improve access within
the mangroves.
•New,once a week service is being provided to the mangroves located between 72°and
73°Street on the west side.
•An additional litter cans have been placed at 75"Street and Dickens Avenue street end.
•Waste haulers,Waste Management and Waste Connections were asked to check all the
garbage cans in the alleys from 73"°to 76"Street to make sure that all cans had plugs and
lids that were functioning properly,have completed their work.
Homeless Services Engagements
Below is a summary of the Housing &Community Services Department's activities in the Park
View area from October 29 to November 4,2025:
New Hope visit at 10:35 PM and 12:00 AM.
10/29/2025 No persons found.
Homeless Outreach Services Team visit at New Hope visit at 11.00 PM.No persons
10/30/2025 10:20 AM.No person(s)found.found.
Homeless Outreach Services Team visit at New Hope visit at 1:30 AM.No persons
10/31/2025 10:00 AM.No person(s)found.found.
Homeless Outreach Services Team visit at New Hope visit at 11.00 PM.No persons
11/1/2025 11.08 AM.No person(s)found.found.
Homeless Outreach Services Team visit at
9:48 AM.(1)persons engaged.Refused New Hope visit at 10:00 PM.No persons
11/2/2025 services.found.
Homeless Outreach Services Team visit at New Hope visit at 11 :00 PM.No persons
11/3/2025 3:30 PM.No person(s)found.found.
Homeless Outreach Services Team visit at
2:21 PM.(1)persons engaged.Refused New Hope visit at 10:45 PM.No persons
11/4/2025 services.found.
Code Compliance
To support "Operation Clean Water,"Code Compliance has conducted weekly walk-throughs in
the North Beach watershed area,completing 817 inspections.These inspections check for
sanitation issues such as illegal dumping,overflowing dumpsters,and trash in the alleys.These
efforts resulted in 172 written violations for the creation of a health hazard/nuisance.The data
below is from the timeframe of March 19 to November 4,2025.
Violations Count
City Code Violation 6
Environmental -Illicit Discharge 1
Environmental -Illicit Discharae 3
Environmental -Sediment Requirements 1
Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers 1
Property Maintenance Violation 9
Deteriorated Rain Gutter 1
Rain Gutter (Stagnant Water)1
Staanant Water 5
Trash 1
Tree Debris 1
Sanitation Violation 157
Construction and Demolition Debris Permit 1
Deteriorated Dumpster 1
Dumpster on Row 3
Garbaae/Trash Alley 2
Illegal Dumpina/Disposal 113
Illicit Discharge 2
Illicit Discharge(Raw Sewage}2
No Garbage Container Permit 1
No Garbaae Service 1
Overflowina Dumpster 26
Overflowing Dumpster/Illegal Dumping Alley 3
Refrigerator on ROW 2
Grand Total 172
Pursuing Dredging to Increase Flow/Flushing
Since Park View Canal is an angled and narrow canal within the Tatum Waterway,natural flushing
to dilute pollutants associated with urban stormwater runoff is limited.Dredging of the canal is a
potential option to increase flushing of the waterway.Bathymetric and geotechnical surveys and
flushing analysis are completed.These analyses are necessary to understand the efficacy of
potential dredging of the canal.The results of these evaluations are being carefully reviewed for
desired water quality outcomes.The dredging project was reiterated as a City Commission priority
during the September 30,2025,Budget Hearing and will move forward in the design and permitting
process concurrently with the nanobubble technology.The construction phase project mobilization
is recommended to follow the hydrodynamic separator installation to reduce sediment inputs into
the canal following dredging.
For more information,contact Rodney Knowles,Assistant Public Works Director at
Rodneyknowles@miamibeachf\_gov.±±.
EXHIBIT-A
991-15-BBE Lateral Lini
Run #1-Page 1
-~-~~---
.2s-.g m
-a,#is@nn .i Fya74"9"?"7
-~..
-·.,.
:.5-
r A g£il SouXi•,a.
0
Lining Completed
Pipe to be Lined
Pipe Cleaned Completed
Point Repair Needed -
7 LF from C01N
.,
-BBE Lateral in·'{-ea.2
~Completed j
ining Completed
Pipe to be Lined
Cleaned Complete
---
91-15-BBE Lateral Li
Run #2-Pace 3
Abandon Pipe
Section (Per Meeting
w /School Board on 8.
27-25)
COMPLETED
-
91-15-BBE Lateral Li
Run #3--Pae 4
CO1B
Going to Cap And
Abandon Pipe (Per
Meeting w/School
Board on 8-27-25)
CAP on Cleanout
Completed
Lining Completed
Pipe to be Lined
Pipe Cleaned Completed
Pipe Cleaned Completed --
No Lining Needed
[comeletea ]
3"Galvanized Pipe
--No lssues -Do
replaced in Pit
COMPLETED
Lining Completed
Pipe to be Lined
Pipe Cleaned Completed
-
EXHIBIT -B
Sanitary Sewer Assessment and Rehabilitation Summary (No Update)
The Public Works Department has had a proactive,nonstop,find-and-fix approach to performing
its sanitary sewer assessment and rehabilitation efforts.The work has been a joint effort between
the Public Works Operations Division's in-house staff and contractors.Below is a summary of the
work completed thus far in the Park View Island and Park View extended areas:
City Wide Smoke Test and Manhole Assessment (2021):Smoke Test and Manhole
Inspection was performed on the gravity sewer system Citywide by a contractor first half of
2021.Smoke tests detect private and public defects on sewer laterals as well as any illegal
connection of private drainage systems to public sanitary sewer systems.All public defects
were rehabilitated by Operations within a month of discovery.Private defects were reported
to Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM)per Chapter 24
County Code for enforcement.
Clean and Video Inspection (CCTV)of all Sewer Gravity Pipe in Park View Island and
Park View extended area (July 2021):A contractor was hired to do a complete video
inspection of 100%of all gravity sewer mains in Park View Island and Park View extended
area on public property.CCTV of the inside of the gravity pipe is done to understand the
condition of the pipe and to put together the scope of work for the needed type of rehabilitation.
Force main Air Release Valve (ARV)Replacement Program by Public Works Operations
(February 2023):On February 2023 Operations completed the force main ARV Replacement
Project for the force mains associated with Sewer Pump Station #23 and Sewer Pump Station
#24.These two force mains are in the area of Park View extended area.A total of sixteen
(16)ARVs were replaced or rehabilitated.
Leak Detection Dye Test on Transmission System by Operations and Engineering (1°
Qtr.2023):Dye was introduced into the wet wells of Sewer Pump Station #23 and Sewer
Pump Station #24 to test the integrity of the transmission system (pressurized pipe).Several
staff members from Public Works'Operations and Engineering teams were positioned in
various locations at canal outfalls,stormwater manholes,and on a boat in Park View Canal for
approximately 2 to 3 hours.No dye was observed in the canal nor in the stormwater system.
Gravity Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation of Park View Island (1°Qtr.2023):
Approximately 98%of sewer laterals were lined and 95%of manholes were rehabilitated in
Park View.Suspect laterals were also inspected using CCTV and were found to be in good
condition on the public property.Lining and rehabilitation of sewer and manholes extends the
life of the infrastructure and stops leaks in or out of the structure.
Gravity Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation of Park View Extended Area (4""Qtr.
2024):Approximately 98%of the sewer gravity lines from 72°Street north to 76"Street,and
Dickens Avenue to Ocean Terrace were inspected using CCTV and lined in order to extend
the infrastructure's lifespan and to stop any observed leaks.The manholes were rehabilitated
as needed in the area.
Complete Rehabilitation of Sewer Pump Station #23 on 75 Street (1°Qtr.2023):
Complete rehabilitation of the sewer pump station,including the replacement of two existing
pumps and motors,and replacing 20 linear feet of piping,two check valves,and two plug
valves.Pump station wet well rehabilitation was done as part of the Citywide well rehabilitation
project.
City Wide Pump Station Wet Well Rehabilitation (Completed August 2025):Rehabilitation
and lining of seventeen (17)sewer pump station wet wells Citywide.The remaining six (6)wet
wells will be rehabilitated as part of future Public Works projects.A wet well collects all sanitary
flow from the contributing basin to be pumped via force main to the Miami-Dade Central
Wastewater Treatment Plant.Rehabilitation and lining extents the lifespan of the wet well and
seals any existing leaks.
CCTV of Laterals on Public Property at 75 Street and Dickens Avenue Intersection by
Public Works Operations (03/16/2024):Operations conducted a CCTV assessment of the
lateral pipes in the public right-of-way,located at the intersection of 75"Street and Dickens
Avenue,including only the portion of the lateral coming from Biscayne Beach Elementary on
75"Street that lies within the right-of-way.The public right-of-way laterals on Dickens Avenue
and 75"Street intersection were found to be in good condition.
Force Main Leak Detection (City Wide)Performed by Contractor (09/2024):A Citywide
leak detection test was performed by a contractor on the sanitary sewer transmission system
in early September 2024.The leak detection test revealed no leaks.
CCTV of Private Biscayne Beach Elementary up to and including the ROW by Public
Works Operations (04/26/2025):The School's as-built records from the 1990's were shared
with the City in 2024.The records showed one existing lateral line extending from the school
to the public manhole at 75"Street.Public Works Operations performed a CCTV inspection
of the private lateral pipe from visible cleanouts or access points on the school's property.The
CCTV inspections on the private laterals identified several deficiencies,and at one point,the
CCTV inspection was abandoned due to buckling/pipe belly-and-sag due to severe corrosion
and heavy sediment buildup inside of the private sewer pipe.Operations marked the
approximate location of the private lateral based on the CCTV inspection performed that day,
and uploaded the survey information to the City's GIS system.The school also conducted their
own independent CCTV inspection of the lateral the same day (04/26/2025),alongside
Operations.
Dye Test on Biscayne Elementary Lateral (05/05/2025)by Operations:Dye testing was
performed by introduced dye into cleanouts (access points within the lateral lines,)and at the
school's toilet in an attempt to locate any leaks into stormwater system.Even though the test
was performed at the lowest tide (10:00 AM)that day,the school's private stormwater system
remained full,therefore,the dye test was inconclusive.
Visual Inspection of Stormwater Conflict Structure that houses City force main
(05/16/2025 &05/17/2025)by Operations:On 05/16/2025,the Operations team conducted
a visual inspection of the conflict manhole at low tide (11 :20 AM)and at high tide (5:20 PM)to
determine the integrity of the force main.Operations returned the next day (5/17/2025)to clean
the force main at the conflict structure.The force main was found to be in good condition with
no leaks.Both the duplex Sewer Pump Station #23 and #24 were turned on by hand at the
time of the observation.No leaks were detected on the force main.